that's what america is all about. now, there aren't many things that are more important to that idea of economic mobility -- the idea that you can make it if you try -- than a good education. all the students here know that. that's why you're here. that's why your families have made big sacrifices -- because we understand that in the face of greater and greater global competition, in a knowledge- based economy, a great education is more important than ever. a higher education is the single best investment you can make in your future. and i'm proud of all the students who are making that investment. and that's not just me saying it. look, right now, the unemployment rate for americans with at least a college degree is about 1/3 lower than the national average. the incomes of folks who have at least a college degree are more than twice those of americans without a high school diploma. so more than ever before, some form of higher education is the surest path into the middle class. but what i want to talk about today is